‘We’re here to help’: UTPD, APD collaborate for safety

No two shifts are the same for Michael Procopio, a senior officer at the Austin Police Department. One moment, he may be checking his emails, and the next, he’s responding to a call in a car with sirens that wail through the streets. Procopio has worked at APD for 13 years. He has seen changes in his department, including seeing the University of Texas Police Department expand patrol into West Campus, increasing the collaboration between the two. The major differences between the departments are the types of calls they receive, although their responses and investigative practices are similar. The departments cover UT campus and surrounding resident areas where they interact with students each day. The Baker section of APD, which Procopio serves, surrounds UT campus, including the Drag and parts of North and West Campus. UTPD handles on-campus calls and incidents. Advertisement In September, UTPD’s budget increased by $7 million to boost pay for its 117 sworn officers.

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